Okla. law limits manpower to vol. fire departments

The law allows up to 25 firefighters in each department to keep pension costs in check

SLAUGHTERVILLE, Okla. — Months after a massive wildfire tore through Slaughterville, The Gibsons are re-building their home. As they start from the ground up, The Gibsons say being on this side of the fire is unfamiliar territory, that's because Tony Gibson was a volunteer firefighter.

"I've never seen a fire like this in the 10 years that I was on there," Gibson recalls.

The Gibsons know first hand the limited resources available to Slaughterville and other volunteer fire departments across the state. Oklahoma law allows a maximum of 25 volunteer firefighters in each department.

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